Author: Charles W. Mills
Synopsis
Mills argues that modern political orders cannot be understood solely through idealized theories of equal social contracts. He proposes that racial domination has historically operated as an implicit political arrangement determining whose rights and interests receive full recognition.
Why It Matters to Sociology
The book challenged mainstream political philosophy and contributed to critical race theory. It offers sociologists a framework for examining how racial inequality can be built into institutions, norms, and definitions of citizenship.